Antoine Arnault, a member of the board of LVMH, the luxury conglomerate with owns the brand, and son of its CEO Bernard Arnault, said Constans' departure was "very sudden" and that it had been "a moving moment" for all involved.

Although Constans' illness is not said to be life-threatening, it has reportedly prohibited him from fulfilling his commitments and meeting the physical demands of the high-profile job.

"During his time with Louis Vuitton, Jordi Constans has shown remarkable leadership, which has earned him the respect of the entire team," Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, told
WWD
. "He understood perfectly the opportunities for this iconic brand. On behalf of the entire group I wish Jordi a full recovery."

Constans' replacement, Burke, has worked at Vuitton before, overseeing their North American business in the Nineties, and has also held senior positions at Dior, Fendi and, most recently, Bulgari.

"I have worked with Michael Burke for many years. He has enormous experience in our business and knows Louis Vuitton well," stated Arnault. "He is a seasoned leader with a well-rounded profile, pragmatic, multicultural and modern. He has excellent skills in motivating his teams. I am convinced that he is the right leader for Louis Vuitton's future; he will build on the initiatives launched by Jordi Constans, bringing the vision and drive to continue advancing Louis Vuitton's leadership position in luxury."